Air humidifier



Aug. 2, 1932. G. D. DOHERTY 1,869,549

AIR HUMIDIFIER Filed March 12, 1930 Patented 2, 1932 I UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE GEORGE D. DOHEBTY, OF MINNEAPOLI S, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TODOHER'IY-IBREHM COMPANY, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESDTA, A CORPORATION OFDELAWARE AIR HUMIDIFIER Application filed March 12, 1930. Serial No.435,052.

casing or housing having an air inlet and v anair outlet atopposite endsthereof and a means for forcinga circulation of air therethrough andbetween the heating sections for the purpose ofabsorbing moisture fromthe humidifying medium in the troughs and of receiving a transmission ofheat in orderto maintain humidity in a room or other enclosureconsistently with the proper degree of temperature of the room.

Further, since a fan or other like means is employed for forcing acirculation of ,air through the apparatus, one of the heating sectionsmay be provided with an extension for supporting the fan .in spacedrelation to the floor in a manner to tend to deaden the vibration andthus to eliminate the usual accompanying noises. By supporting the fanin this manner, the whole mass or weigh of the assembled structure isutilized for weighting down the vibrating mass of the fan proper andthus the vibrations tending to be setup by the fan during operation aresubstantially completely dampened thus rendering operation of mycombined humidifier and radiator noiselessv since the fan is not incontact with the floor except through the base of the radiatorand-humidifier.

In explanation of the usefulness of my present invention thefollowingcomments are ofi'eredj It has been contended that theaverageperson spends over eight percent of his or her time indoorsduring the winter vmonths. The air in a home is heated, natu-' rally, toa temperature which is comfortable to the body and, in most instances,the-body does not feel comfortable until the air is heated to acomparatively high degree due to the aridity of the air. It is thegeneral belief that a temperature range of from 70 to 80 degrees isdesirable and is usually maintained in homes yet it is a fact that'theideal temperature for good health is 64 degrees or'at-the most 68degreesand under proper conditions of humidity this temperature is perfectlycomfortable. It is concluded therefore that,'in winter, most people livethe greater part of the time under conditions which are not altogetherdesirable to good health. l

Air normally contains from 40 to percent ofsaturation with water.However, the relative humidity of air at zero is 100 percent, the aircontaining half a grain of water to a cubic foot of air. If this sameair is heated to 70 degrees without the loss or gain of any moisture itwould have a relative hllmidity of only 6.3 percent because a cubic footof air at 70 degrees can contain about 8 grains of water. In order tosupply this comparatively eat amount of moisture to the air at thehigher temperatures, it is contemplated to provide a forced circulationof air over a large exposed area of humidifying medium in direct contactwith a heating section that serves to vaporize rapidly an in largevolume the humidifying medium.- The heating sections are spaced from onet another and are severally provided over their upper surfaces with atrough for containing a humidifying medium. The assembled structure mayreplace the ordinary type of roomradiator. 7

By reason of the peculiar disposition'of the sections and thecirculatory means, a maximum transmission of heat is obtained in the airand humidity may be maintained consistently at the proper degree.

One of the objects of ,"this invention is to provide an apparatus of thecharacter above noted in which a forced circulation of air is providedbetween spaced heating sections in'which the 'humidifying medium isexposed to the air over substantiallv the entire upper surface of thesection.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus ascharacterized above in which the air to be humidified is circulate byforcdmeans between heat-ing sections disposed in a casing, the air beingadmitted and exhausted through opposite ends'of the casing.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus ofthecharacter indicated above in which the fan motor or other forced-feedmeans is substantially completely dampened by the weight of theassembledstructure to eliminate vibration and the usual accompanyingnoises.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter be more particularlypointed out and for a more complete understanding of the characteristicfeatures of this invention reference may now be had to the followingdescription when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in whichlatter:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus embodying the features ofthis invention with the casingthereof in section;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the ,apparatus shown in Figure 1with the casing thereof being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a top plan viewof the lower tray for supporting the heatingsections of the apparatus of this invention and Fig. 4 is a centralvertical sectional view taken on the line44.- of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the specific embodimentof this invention comprises a supporting tray 10 having a plurality ofsuperposed horizontally extending heating sections 11 mounted thereon.The supporting tray 10 comprises a somewhat shallow rectangular troughsupported at the four corners thereof by legs 12. The tray is preferablyprovided with a central elongated longitudinally extending opening 13 topermit the passage of air therethrough, as will hereinafter be moreparticularly pointed out. It is, of course,'to be understood that these.openings may be varied in number and size and that the tray may not beprovided with an opening, as desired, depending upon the size of theunit and the like.

Each of the-heating sections 11, in ordinary domestic use, comprisespreferabl a plurality, of longitudinally extending hol ow eating. units14 which are connected to gether at their outer ends to form acircuitous passageway for the circulation of a heat ing medium. It is,of course, to be understood that each heating section may comprise asingle heating unit as well as any number of heating units, the drawingshowing a double unit merely for the purpose of illustration. Further,these units may be arranged to have a larger number of heating units inone section than in the adjacent section or sectiohs. The sections arepreferably cast with a peripheral flange 15 extending around the outeredges of the unit and across the ends thereof to form a continuousexposed recessed 'portion or trough for containing a 'humidifyingmedium. The two units forming the heating section provide an open spacetherebetween to form a central. passageway for air in communicaculationof air around each unit of the heating section.

The open troughs formed on the upper faces of the heating sections bymeans of the peripheral flange 15 are adaptedt'o hold a humidifyingmedium that is imparted to the heated 'air as it circulates around andlongitudinally through the spaces between the heating sections; Meansare provided be tween the superposed sections for connecting the troughsof the adjacent sections to one another comprising a conduit 16 whichispreferably formed integrally with the casting and extends verticallyfrom a point just above the upper surface of the heating section, whichlatter forms the bottom surface of the trough, to a point adjacent thetrough of the heating section next below.

These conduits 16 are arranged in a staggered vertical. direction or inany other suitabl'e-manner other than in alignment with eachother, whichlatter arrangement, it is submitted, would permit the humidifying mediumto fall from the upper sections directly to the lower tray. This, ofcourse, would be highly undesirable, as will hereinafter be fullyunderstood, the upper trough being supplied with the v.humidifyingmedium and it, in turn, supplyingthe other troughs therewith. It hasbeen stated that the conduit extends from a point a slight distanceabovethe base of the trough to a point adjacent the trough next below. Inthis manner, a lip 17 is provided for maintaining a minimum level-ofhumidifying medium in each trough. Therefore, each of the severaltroughs forming the assembled structure will always contain a minimumsupply of humidifying medium.

The lower rounded portion of each unit of each heating section isprovided with a drip-edge 18 whereby, should one of the conduits 16become clogged with foreign matter, the humidifying medium wouldoverflow the peripheral flange 15 and drip into the trough next below.This drip-edge 18 would, of course, direct the overflow into the troughnext below thereby preventing the humidifying medium from dropping intoany of the air passageways and from thence to the floor.

Each ofthe heating sections is provided with a boss 19 on each side andat each end thereof for supporting and connecting the adjacent heatingsections together. These bosses further provide for a circulation of theheating medium from one heating section to the other by reason of thenipple connections 19a therebetween. The uppermost heating section isprovided with the usual plug to prevent the'escape of theheating medium.The lowermost heating section is connected to the supporting tray in thesame manner as each section is connected together, the tray beingprovided with a boss 20 on the face surfaces and at opposite endsthereof, the bosses, in turn, communicating with end-bosses 21 which areconnected to the inlet and outlet conduits 22 and 23, re-

. poses of manual adjustment of the water supply to the troughs.However, the valve 25 is regulated to permit of the supply of a desiredamount of humidifying medium to the trough of the uppermost heatingsection from whence it flows through the overflow conduits 16 into thetrough of the next lower heating section. Any surplus water is drainedthrough a waste pipe 27 or a plurality of waste pipes 27 and 28 whichmay be disposed in each unit of the heating section in order to insureproper drainage. The supporting tray 10 is provided with a baffle orupstanding lug 29 which receives the overflow from the lowermost heatingsection. The water flowing from; the immediately superposed section 11through the conduit 16 engages the upper surface of the lug 29 thusbreaking the fall of the water. In thismanner the noise of drippingwater is eliminated.

The supporting tray 10 has an extension 30 thereon which is providedwith an opening 13 sufiiciently large to permit the elbow connecting-theoutlet conduit 23 with the boss of the tray to turn thereinin assemblingthe structure. Theextension is provided with a pocket for receiving thebase of a fan motor 31, therebeing a packing of sound insulatingmaterial 32 in-the pocketsurroundingthe base. The motor31, together withits supporting base is of considerable mass and the lining of resilientniafterial 32, which mass of felt or other snitablecushioning materialis laid loosely against the wallszof the well or pocket formed in'theextension39' so that the motor freely rests upon the cushioning supportpfovided by this resilient material. This forms a vibrationdeadening'support weight of the superposed heating sections prevents adisplacement of the tray 10 and there will be substantially no vibrationbecause of the absorption by the cushioning material and by reason ofthe fact thatthere is no direct physical contact between the extensionand the floor.

It will be noted from the foregoing description that the fan issupported in spaced relation to the floor and, moreover, that the fan isweighteddo'wn by the entire assembled structure made up of a pluralityof heating sections that are all rigidly connected to one another. Inthis fashion the vibrating elements of the fan are dampened by theentire weight of the assembled structure and any vibration-from the fancan only be communicated to the floor through the legs 12 upon which theassembled structure rests. This feature ,of my invention is highlyimportant since it insures a substantially noiseless operation of mycombined humidifier and radiator, a very desirable attainment when thedevice is tobe installed in a room or ofaflice where noise would behighly undesirable. The fan is also out of contact with the casingsurrounding the radiatorwhich is hereinafter more fully described.Moreover, the base 31a of the fan is of substantial mass which furtherdampens the vibrations developed by the fan and allows the resilientmaterial 32 to insulate effectively the fan from the floor upon whichthe device is disposed. This arrangement insures that the operation ofthe fan will be substantially noiseless.

The apparatus hereinbefore described, including the heating sections,the supporting tray and the fan motor 31, are mounted in a casing 33preferabLy rectangular in shape and of just suflicientdimensions tohouse comfortably the apparatus. The end of the casing adjacent the fanmotor 31 is provided with a grill 34 to permit of the passage of 'airtherethrough, and the other end of the casing is provided with a grill35 preferably on the front face of the casing for the purpose ofexhausting the airsupplied through the grill 34. The'motor31, when inoperation, provides a suction for drawing air through the grill 34 i andblows the same between the heating sec- 7 tions and over the exposedtroughs contain- ,ingthehumidifying medium whereby the air yiiththeheating sections is obtained. 'This comparatively great area exposingthe humidifying medium to the air forced in contact therewith providesaneflicient means for the transfer of moisture into the air. By reasonof roviding this maximum amount of 5 humidi ying medium and the forcedcontact therewith of air to be heated and humidified, it is possible tomaintain humidity in a room or other enclosure consistently at theproper degree. v

While but a single embodiment of this invention is herein shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that Various modifications thereof maybe apparent to those skilled in the 'art without departing from the sirit and scope of this invention and there ore, the same is to belimited onl by the scope of the' prior art and the appen ed claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a plurality ofspaced and superposed heating sections connected to one an other forcirculating a heating medium therethrough, said sections, when assembledtogether, constituting a rigid mass of substantial weight, means on saidsections for containing a humidifying medium for imparting humidity tothe heated air, andan electric fan motor wholly mountedon saidassembledstructure for forcing a circulation of air longitudinally between saidsections and in contact with said humidifying medium, the vibrations ofsaid fan motor being damped etfectively by the mass of said assembledstruc turei 2. An apparatus of the character described, comprising aplurality of spaced and superposed heating sections connected to oneanother for circulating a heating medium there-- through, said sections,when assembled together, constituting a rigid mass of substantial weightan open trough on at least one of said sections containing a humidifyingmedium for imparting humidity to the heated air, and an electric fanmotor wholly mounted on said assembled structure for forcing a circulation of air longitudinally over said open trough and in contact withsaid-humidifylng medium, thevibrations of said fan motor being dampedeffectively by the mass of said assembled structure.

3. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a plurality ofspaced and superp'osed heating sections connected to one an v other forcirculating a heating medium theregether, constituting a rigid mass ofsubstantial weight, a peripheral flange bounding the edges of at leastone of said sections toprovide an open trough containinga'humidify'ingmer air, and an electric fan motor wholly supported onsaid assembled structure for forcing a circulation of air longitudinallyover said humidifying medium and in contact with said humidifyingmedium, the Vibrations of through, said sections when assembled to-'dium for imparting humidity to the heated" said fan motor being dampedeffectively by the mass of said assembled structure.

4. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a plurality ofspaced and superposed heating sections connected to one another forcirculating a heating medium therethrough, said sections, when assembledtogether, constituting a rigid mass of substantial weight, means on eachsection for containing a humidifying medium for imparting humidity tothe heated air, an electric fan motor wholly supported on said assembledstructure inducing a flow of air longitudinally between said sectionsand in contact with said humidifying medium to evaporate the latter, anda casing sound insulated from said structure and said electric fan motorand being disposed about said heating sections and said circulatingmeans.

5. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a plurality ofspaced and superposed'heating sections connected to one another forcirculating aheating medium therethrough, said section's, when assembledtogether, constituting a rigid mass of substan- I ial weight, means onat least one section congaining a humidifying medium for impartingumidity to the heated air, an electric fan motor wholly supported onsaid assembled structure for creating a circulation of airlongitudinally between said sections and in contact with saidhumidifying medium, the vibrations of said fan motor being damped ef-.fectively by the mass of said assembled structure,and a casing forenclosing said heating sections and said circulation means, saidrcasinghaving an air'inlet at one end thereof adjacent said circulating meansand an air outlet atthe other end thereof and beingsound insulated fromsaid assembled structure and 10: said fan motor.

6. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a plurality ofspaced and superposed sections-connected to one another for circulatinga heating medium therethrough, an' extension on one of said sections forsupporting a fan motor, means on at least one sec tion for containing ahumidifyingmedium for imparting humidity to'the airforced between saidsections by said fan motor, and a resilient material between said motorand said extension fordeadening the vibration and accompanyingnoises'therefrom.

7. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a plurality ofspaced and superposed sections connected to one another'forCirculating-a heating medium therethrough, an extension on one of saidsections for supporting a fan motor, means on at least one section forcontaining a humidifying medium for imparting humidity to the air forcedbetween said sections by said fan motor, said extension having a pockettherein, and a cushioning material resting loosely against the wallsofsaid pocket, said motor resting freely on said cushioning. material fordeadening the vibration and accompanying noises therefrom.

8. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a plurality ofspaced and superposed castings connected to one another for circulatinga heating medium therethrough, an extension on one of said castings forsupporting a fan motor, means on at least one casting for containing ahumidifying medium for imparting humidity to the air forced between saidcastings by said fan motor, said extension being formed integrally withsaid casting and having a pocket therein, and a cushioning materialresting loosely against the walls of saidpocket, said motor restingfreely on said cushioning material for deadening the vibrations and.accompanying noises therefrom.

9. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a plurality ofspaced and superposed heating sections connected to one another forcirculating a heating medium therethrough, at least some of saidsections comprising longitudinally extending hollow cast ings havingperipheral flanges on the upper surface thereof to provide troughs forcontaining a humidifying medium for imparting humidity to the heated airforced between said sections, said castings with the troughs having dripedges on the underneath walls thereof, that are longitudinal of thecastings, said drip edge on the upper casting being above the trough ofthe lower casting for directing the overflow into said lower trough, anda tray for supporting saidheating sections and for receiving theoverflow of said humidifying medium directed thereto by said drip edges.

10. A combined heat radiator and air humidifier apparatus comprising aplurality of separate and spaced heating sections that are rigidlyconnected toone another for circulating a heating medium therethrough,at least one of said sections having a trough for containing ahumidifying medium that extendssubstantially completely over the uppersurface thereof, a lateral extension secured to one of said sections andspaced from the floor upon which saidapparatus is disposed, anelectrically operated fan supported upon said lateral extension thatserves to circulate air between said sections and over said trough, aresilient vibration dampening material interposed between said fan andsaid lateral extension, said rigidly connected sections serving as aweight to dampen the vibrations developed b said fan, and acasingsurrounding the an and said sections which is free from mechanicalcontact therewith.

11. In' a combined heat radiator an air humidifier apparatus comprisinga plurality of superposed and spaced heating sections, at least oneheating section constituting a 1onby said fan.

gitudinally disposed chamber for a heating medium and having an exposedtrough integrally formed therewith that extends sublateral extension andsound insulated there-- from and adapted to force air longitudinallybetween said built up sections and over said trough whereby humidity maybe imparted to said air, said sections constituting a weight or mass fordampening vibrations developed 12. A combined air humidifier and heatradiator comprising a pluralityof spaced and superposed heating sectionsconnected to one another for circulating a heating medium therethrough,at least two sections being provided on their upper surfaces withexposed troughs for containing ahumidifying medium, the upper sectionhaving an overflow, and means for maintaining in said trough a certainpredetermined level of the humidifying medium therein and the lowertrough being provided with an upstanding lug disposed underneaththeoverflow of said upper trough to break the fall of the humidifyingmedium flowing therethrough from said upper trough.

13. A combined air humidifier and heat radiator comprising a pluralityofspaced heating sections superposed directly upon one another and beingconnected to one another for circulating a heating medium therethrough,at least two heating sections comprising longitudinally extending hollowcastings for containing the heating medium and said castings havingperipheral flanges on the upper surface thereof to provide open troughsfor containing a humidifying medium for imparting humidity to the heatedair, the upper section having a drip edge formed on the under wallthereof Wherebv the humidifying medium dripping from said edge isdirected into the trough of the'lowl-r casting, and means in the uppertrough for maintaining therein a predetermined level of the humidifyingmedium.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

GEORGE D. DOHICH'I'Y.

